Engine-starting apparatus



q 1,634,738 w. A. CHRYST ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2'7, i925 "Feiheinted duly 5, 3:92;

i i "a.

winnraar a. enm'sr; or

DAYTQN, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTE, EQ-

DELCO-EEHY CDRPGIQATIQTET, OF DzhYTOlT, OHI-i), .A CORPORATION OF DELAWLEE- ENGINE-STARTING AJPPAHATUS.

Application filed August 27, 1925. Eerie! No. 52,928.

This invention relates to encine starting apparatus, and more particularly to the type of apparatus shown in my copending application Serial No. 16.206, 'filcdlliarch l7,

1925. That application discloses an engine startmg apparatus including an electric mo-- supporting a gear tor which operates a shaft shaft which is movable endwise along the into engagement with the gear of The motor gear is an engine to he started. connected ivitlrthe motor shaft through an over-running'hlutch, one.

member of which has a splined connection with the motor shaft, so that the clutch can he moved endwise to move the motor gear endwise into mesh with the engine gear. The other member of the clutch is provided with external splines for receiving the internal splines of the motor gear, so that the clutch may slide relative to the motor gear as well as impart rotation to the latter by the operation of the motor. Endwise motion from the clutch to the motor gear is imparted through a spring which will yield in case the motor gear collides with the teeth of the engine gear before going into mesh, so thatthe liiVGF'WlllCll is used to move the clutch endwise along the motor shaft, may he moved sufiiciently to close the motor switch so that the motor may turn slightly to register the motor gear with the engine tooth spaces; whereupon the said spring will be released to snap the motor gear into mesh with the engine C ne of the objects of the present nvention is to modify apparatus of the type referred to, in order that a motor gear having relatively small number-oi teeth may be used.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the.

following description. reference being had to the accompanying drawings. wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the starting motor having the form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are longitudinal sectional views showing the manner of attaching a and out of engagement flanged ring to one of the parts of the start ing apparatus.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, designates the motor field frame having attached thereto by means,- (not shown) end frame constituting a gear housing 21 and having cylindrical bosses 22 and 533 which are received by a cylindrical opening in an engine frame which houses an era-- gine gear. 24, indicated by a dot-and-dash line. Theframe 21 carries bearings 25 and i'or supporting the armature shaft 27 of the motor. Shaft 27 carries an armature 528' which revolves between pole pieces 29 surrounded by field windin s 30.

The shaft 27 is providedwith splines 31 and a portion 32 of reduced diameter iournaled in the bearing 25,.and proge ding a 1ournal for the hub 33 a 64 which moves endwise along the shaft. 2

7 into and out of engagement with the engine gear 24' Splines 31 cooperate with splines pro vided internally of a driving clutch many her 40 having cumming surfaces 41 which cooperate with rollers 42, which in turn cooperate With the interior cylindrical surface of a clutch shell 43 or overrunning clutch member. The rollers 42 are maintained in spaced relation by a cage 44, and cage 44 is yieldingly urged in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 2, relative to the members 40and 43, by plungers 45 which are urged by springs 46 against lugs 47 which are formed integrally with the cage 44. Obviously, clockwise rotation of the clutch members-(J will cause the clutch shell 43 to be driven through the rollers 42. The spring-urged cage 44 causes the-rollers 42 to be located relative to the camming surfaces 41 and the interior cylindricai surface of'the shell 43, so that the instant the member ll) starts to drive in a clockwise direction, the

rollers will he immediately,fgripped by "the cannning surfaces and the interior of the shell. The diameter of the hub 44 of the cage 44 is less than twice the greatest distance fromtheaxis of shaft 27 to the surfaces 41, hence, clutch member 40 not. be moved toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 1 without moving the cage 44. Thus, end wise movement or the clutch member 46 relative to the shell 43 in one direction is prevented by awasher 48 having a central open- Kill:

ing for receiving the clutch member 40 and a flan e 49, which is spun into a groove 50 providied on the exterior of the clutch shell 43. A spacing washer 51 is located between the washer 43 and the cage 44.

The clutch shell 43 is provided with a hub 52 which is internall splined at 53 to receive the external splines 54 which are provided by the hub 33 of the motor gear 34.

1'0 It is, therefore, apparent that the motor gear 34 is driven by the shaft 27 through the splines 31 which drive the internal splines olthe clutch member 40, through the clutch members 40, 42 and 43, and through the splined'connection between the hub 52 oi.

member 43 and the hub 33 of gear 34 I Endwise motion toward the left in Fig.

1, o:f.the clutch 41 is imparted by a pedal- 60 which is connected by a rod 61 with a to lever 62 which is supported by a shaft 63 carried by the frame 21'. The lower end of the lever 62 is bifurcated and each branch carries a stud or roller 64 which is received b an annular groove 65 in the hub of the 2.3 c utch member 40. Endwise motion is imparted from the member to the member 43 by en agcmcnt of end faces of said members, indicated by numeral (56.

Endwise .motion is imparted from the so member'43 to the gear 34 by a spring. 67

which is located between cupped washers 68 and 69 attached, rcspectivcl to the hub 33 of gear 34, and to hub 52 o clutch member 43. A manner of attaching these cup- 35 shaped washers to their respective hubs is indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. The. washer 68 is formed as indicated by numeral 68 in Fig. 3 which shows that the central opening of the washer is surrounded by a 4.0 flange 68* which is frustmconical in shape.

Washer. 71 which is located immediatel Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, it is forced against the hacking washer 71. The diameter at the bottom of the groove 72 is made such-as to receive the flange 68 when it has been changed from the shape shown in Fig.

)5 3 to the shape shown in Fig. 4, -the flange having cntercd'the groove 72 as indicated at 68". lhe cup-shaped washer-'60 is attached to the hub 52 in a similar manner.

'lhe spring (37 is in an initial state of comco pression, and separation of the cup washers 68 and 69 is prevented by a wire split ring 73 which is received by a suitable groove adjacent the left-hand end of the washer 69.

To start an. engine with the paratus dea as scribed, the pedal (50 is pressed downwardly,

azarus causing the lever 62 to move clockwise to impart endwise movement, to the left n Fig. 1, to the gear 34, causing it to mesh w th the gear 24. The lever (52 cooperates with the plunger 80 of an'electric switch 81 for connecting the motor with a current source, whereupon the motor operates to rotate the shat t 27 and ear 34 through the connections described. fl'hen the engine becomes sell operative, the gear 24 will be operated at a higher speed than the shaft 27 is operated bythe motor. Then the clutch member 43 will overrun the clutch member 40, b reason of the construction described. Arte! the engine is started, the operator will release the pedal, whereupon the s rin 75 located between the pedal and tile fl iorboard 7 (3 of the automobile, will be released to cause the lever 62 to move counterclockwise in order to retract the gear 34 from the engine gear 24. A spring 80 causes the switch 81 to be opened. I

In case teeth of the car 34 should collide with the and faces of t e gear 24 before going into mesh, the spring 67 will yield to allow the lever 62 to engage the switch plun or 80 and move it into circuit-closin position. When this occurs, the motor wifi turn the shaft 27 to rotate the gear 34. into registration withthe tooth spaces of the gear 24, whereupon the sprin 67 will quickly snap the gear 34 into mes with the gear 24.

The motor gear 34 is quickly brought to rest, after the pedal 60 is released by a friction disc 82 which is located between the right end of the clutch member 40 and a frame 83 which supports the bearin 26.

It is apparent from Fig. 1 and the (lliscription thereof, that-the starting apparatus permits the use of a motor gear havin a relatively small number of teeth which is necessary when it is desired to obtain a low cranking gear ratio, thereby permitting the use of a relatively small motor. This result is brought about by providingthe motor ear with a hub for receiving the splines w iich slidingly engage internal splines in the hub of the overrunning clutci member. gear splines are, therefore, spaced from the gear teeth, so that the metal directl under the gear teeth will not be weakened by the splines. Consequently, the diameter of the motor gear may be reduced without being limited by the presence of splines cut through the metal of the gear in the plane of the gear teeth. i

While the form of embodiment of the invcntion as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

' What is claimed is as follows:

1. Engine starting apparatus comprising, t

in combination, an electric motor, a she The driven by the motor, a clutch havin a memwith the rooved hub of the driving clutch her driven by the shaft, and'slide le endmember fin moving the clutch an motor wise thereon and an overrunning on the interior t ereof, a gear adapted to move endwise along the shaft into mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started and having a hub externally splined to cooperate with the splines of the overrunning clutch member, means including a spring for transmitting endwise motion from i the clutch to the motor gear, a motor switch, and means for moving the clutch and gear and for closing the switch.

Engine starting apparatus comprising.

in combination, an electric motor, a splined with angear connected with the engine to he started and having a hub externally splined to cooperate with the splines of the overrunning clutch member, means including a spring for transmitting endwise motion from the clutch to the motor gear, a motor switch, and means including a lever cooperating member having a tubular art provided with splines 3, an overrunning driven clutch gear endwise and for closingthe switch.

3. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, a shaft driven by the motor, an overrunning clutch including a shell member, a cam member within the shell and rollers between the clutch members, said cam member being connected with the-shaft for rotation "with the shaft and sliding movement thereon, ,an internally splined tubular part connected with the clutch shell and slidable along the shaft, a pinion adapted to mesh with a gear of the engine to be started and havin an externally splined hub cooperatin wii h lar part of the clutch shelfi a spring surrounding the shaft and located between the clutch and pinion for transmitting motion from the clutch to the pinion in one direction, means surrounding spring for transmitting motion from the clutch to the pinion in the opposite direction, a motor switch, and means for closing the switch and moving the clutch and pinion, said 8 ring yielding in case of pinion tooth a utment to permit closing the motor switch.

In testimony whereof I hereto aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM A. CHRYST.

the tubu-' 

